Ask a literary agent your question about how to get a publishing agent here. You’ll also find answers to questions other authors have posted. This article is part of our free 15-Part Guide About How to Get a Book Agent. It was created by, and is curated by, a former literary agent who’s now helped hundreds of authors get book agents as an author coach and consultant. See successful authors at How I Got My Literary Agent.
ASK A Literary Agent – FAQ
This Ask a Literary Agent FAQ answers questions about: the definition and role of a book agent, who publishing agents are, when you should query literary agents, how much representation costs, the best way to find book agents looking for authors, submissions to literary agents, how to handle an offer for representation, what happens after you get a book agent, and more.
Author Representative definition and role
When you Should Get An Author Representative
How Much An Author Representative Costs
Finding An Author Representative
- How to find a literary agent?
- How to research book agents?
- Who are the best publishing agents?
- Who are the top 10 book agents?
- How to find publishing agents near me?
- Licensed book agents?
- Established publishing agents?
- New book agents?
- Publishing agents to avoid?
- Book agents seeking submissions?
- How to do a publishing agent search?
- Find a list of book agents?
- Publishing agent database?
- Book of literary agents?
- Where to meet publishing agents?
- Book agent events?
- How to Pitch a Literary Agent at a Conference?
Submitting To An Author Representative
- Literary agent submissions?
- How to contact a publishing agent?
- What to submit to a book agent?
- How to write a publishing agent query letter?
- How to write a synopsis for a book agent?
- How to write a publishing agent proposal?
- How to submit a book to a literary agent?
- How many publishing agents should you query?
- Best time to submit to book agents?
- How long to hear back from publishing agents?
- Book agent response time full manuscript?
- What happens when a publishing agent requests your full manuscript?
- Book agent not responding?
- How to follow up with a publishing agent?
- Book agent rejection letters?
- Revise and resubmit to a publishing agent?
Representation Offer From a Book Agent
- Getting an offer of representation from a literary agent?
- First meeting with a book agent?
- Questions a book agent will ask?
- Questions to ask a publishing agent?
- Multiple offers from publishing agents?
- Choosing a book agent?
- Literary agent contract?
- Standard book agent contract?
- Publishing agent contract terms?
- Book agent contract red flags?
- Publishing agent lawyer?
What Happens After You Get An Author Representative
Mark has helped hundreds of authors get offers from literary agents and/or traditional publishers. Writers of all Book Genres have used our Literary Agent Advice coaching/consulting to get Top Literary Agents at the Best Literary Agencies on our List of Book Agents.
Ask a Literary Agent
Due to time constraints, we can’t answer questions that have already been answered. Please make your question clear, and concise, since the submission form below is limited to 500 characters.
If you want to remain anonymous, type “Anonymous” in the name field. You’ll receive an email when a reply has been posted (usually within 48 hours). We look forward to helping you get a book agent.
MARK MALATESTA is a former literary agent turned author coach. Mark now helps authors of all genres (fiction, nonfiction, and children's books) get top literary agents, publishers, and book deals through his company 
How current is this list because so many of the picture book agents I’ve looked up are closed to unsolicited manuscripts.
Thank you.
Apologies for a possible delay…
Resending my reply below sent previously (was notified today that some recipients have not received my July replies):
2024/07/16 at 7:03 pm
In reply to Susan.
Hi Susan,
Agents change day to day whether they’re accepting submissions or not, so that part is fluid and we aren’t able to track that…yet. However, we will be soon. You should always double-check each agent’s site before querying to make sure they’re open.
And, if you haven’t seen or use the following yet, you might find it helpful as well:
How to Get a Literary Agent (NEW 15-Part Guide)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/how-to-get-a-literary-agent/
Literary Agent Advice (1-on-1 Coaching/Consulting)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/literary-agent-advice/
If you want/need help with anything else, you can post here at https://getaliteraryagent.com/ask-a-literary-agent/.
I’ll do what I can to point you in the right direction.
All my best,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Hey, I know the feeling of a watery disaster, and I want to send you some encouragement that it’ll be okay! We had a similar experience last summer in our home, and we were displaced 2.5 months while repairs were being done. Sure it was disruptive, but we made it through and we got some nice new floors and had the opportunity to choose new paint colors, which we’re enjoying. So hang in there, you’ll get through!
Apologies for a possible delay…
Resending my reply below sent previously (was notified today that some recipients have not received my July replies):
2024/07/16 at 7:04 pm
In reply to Grace.
Hi Grace,
You rock, and yes, each week that goes by, it gets easier. There are worse things in life.
Thank you for the love, and have a great week!
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
I submitted a query on the Trident Book Group online form a month ago. I haven’t received a reply from Amanda Annis yet. I even sent an email to her last week asking if she received the form. No reply. What should I do ? Is this normal?
Apologies for a possible delay…
Resending my reply below sent previously (was notified today that some recipients have not received my July replies):
2024/07/16 at 7:05 pm
In reply to Barbara Ann Briggs.
Hi Barbara,
It’s normal, unfortunately. If you don’t hear something after eight weeks, it’s safe to assume the agent isn’t interested. Not sooner. So, the good news is there’s still hope!
If you want/need help with anything else, you can post here at https://getaliteraryagent.com/ask-a-literary-agent/.
I’ll do what I can to point you in the right direction.
All my best,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Many of your agents listed for 2024-2025 Middle grade fiction is out of date. So far, it’s been a major waste of time looking up these various agents, and they DO NOT represent middle grade fiction. There has to be a better place to search than this listing. Not meaning to be rude. But perhaps update your listings more often if you want to stay relevant here.
Apologies for a possible delay…
Resending my reply below sent previously (was notified today that some recipients have not received my July replies):
2024/07/10 at 2:52 pm
In reply to C S.
Hi CS,
Are you talking about the directory or just a list on a page? The directory is updated more frequently, and we’re in the process of a major update.
Please let me know at https://getaliteraryagent.com/ask-a-literary-agent/.
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com